Palmer has partial appeal win against PM

Clive Palmer has partially won an appeal relating to his defamation action against the prime minister, who he is suing for $1 million.

Mr Palmer began legal action against Malcolm Turnbull after a press conference in Beijing on April 15, 2016, in which it was alleged the former federal MP siphoned money from Queensland Nickel and caused its collapse.

Two sets of comments central to Mr Palmer's case were removed after lawyers for Mr Turnbull argued Chinese law hadn't been considered and it was relevant as that is where the words were spoken.

However, Mr Palmer appealed this decision and had a partial victory, in a judgment handed down in Brisbane Supreme Court on Tuesday.

"Mr Palmer's role in this is disgraceful," Mr Turnbull said, according to the part of Mr Palmer's case returned to his claim after appeal.

"As you know, he's been taking money out of that company for his own purposes and that has played a major part in the dire state the business is in."

Mr Palmer has other matters before the court and in May liquidators for Queensland Nickel were successful in a bid to freeze almost $205 million of the former Fairfax MP's personal wealth.